Historic Toowoomba – the Influence of Ancestry in the Business Sector

A hint about some Toowoomba ancestry One of the pleasures of travelling to new places is the opportunity to dig into some local history and one of the best sources are the historic buildings that have been preserved and sometimes even repurposed. Historic buildings are not just preserved because they look grand and stately but …

Historic Toowoomba – the Ups and Downs of Showbiz

The Empire Theatre, Toowoomba We love the arts. Music, dance, musical theatre, film, literature…we love them all and enjoy expanding our horizons and experience of the arts whenever we can. Toowoomba has the largest performing arts centre in regional Australia, the Empire Theatre, and it has a fascinating history. We have attended many performances at …

NAIDOC Week 2021 – Heal Country

Over the last few weeks Dan and I have been spending the weekends doing puzzles. It is that time of year when it is wet and cold outside, and now that Dan is transitioning into independent living, puzzles have become a great weekend family activity that we can do indoors. Where it is warm. Dan …

Historic Toowoomba – Heritage Churches in the City Centre

Not something we'd ever see in Toowoomba! It is not surprising to find old churches regularly listed on historical walks. With their gothic arches, steep roofs and stained glass windows they are incredibly beautiful buildings and even when they are no longer being used as a worship centre, they can make interesting homes, galleries and …

Historic Toowoomba – the Long Arm of the Law

For those of us who are law abiding citizens, the inner workings of the police station and law courts may be a mystery. I have never been inside a court room and only visited the Toowoomba Police station once and that was to hand in a lost wallet I found outside our house. The little …

Historic Toowoomba – the Post Office

The post office has a great charm at one point of our lives. When you have lived to my age, you will begin to think letters are never worth going through the rain for. - Jane Austen Do you remember the last time you received a handwritten letter in the mail box? Walking down to …

Historic Toowoomba – Indigenous History

Gumbi Gumbi Gardens, Toowoomba, QLD As a student of history I love learning about the past. I love learning about the way people lived, the challenges they faced, and the developments that have occurred over time. The history of humanity is a pretty mixed bag, though. There have been great achievements and there have been …

Queens Park, Toowoomba

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night and spring after winter. Rachel Carson There is an old Chinese proverb that says the three greatest physicians in life are nature, time and patience. I think it is interesting that nature is listed first. It …

Remembrance Day

Image by Tim Hill - Pixabay In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row... We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. (In Flanders Fields, John McCrae 1872-1918) The vivid blood-red petals of the …

Buried Treasure

Image by Couleur - Pixabay One of the greatest joys in gardening is to take something that looks dry, brown and almost dead, and bury it in the earth. Seeds and bulbs don’t look like much but their shrivelled appearance is deceptive. Each little seed and bulb is a powerhouse of energy, just waiting for …